I Received An Award

Today I was checking my comments and was surprised to receive an award from Gaelikaa. This was such an honor because Gaelikaa is an amazing person. She writes about her life in India, which fascinates me...it really makes you realize how blessed we are here in America.

Here's My Award

The assignment is-

a)Write a few lines on how happy you are.

b) Pass it on to as many bloggers you can think of:

My Answer:
I'm happy because I am blessed with an amazing husband and family. Even though money is tight, I am the richest person in the whole world! The Lord has truly blessed me!

We all need to take some time each day to remember the important things in our life...the things that bring us true happiness.

I want to pass this award on to YOU and some awesome Bloggers:
AMY
APRIL
JANAE
TRISH
KC Mom
...love Maegan
ROBBIE

I would like to encourage all of my visitors to grab the award and write about what makes them happy today on their Blogs...it's infectious!

Be sure to stop by this post by Robbie...scroll down and read this "Great Faith (part 2 of 7)".

This should be embedded in our bathroom mirrors to read each and every morning. Whether your married or not...THIS IS A MUST READ!

Celebrate, Reflect and Enjoy-4th of July

My family was all in Utah together for the 4th (we couldn't afford to go), but made the best of it here. It's always hard for us because it's the anniversary of my brother John's death. I usually start to get a little edgy and emotional the week leading up to the 4th. I try to make sure we have lots of plans, the busier I am the easier it is.

I decided to treat myself to a new bike this year...last year we were the Beverly Hillbilly's of OC with our crappy, squeaky, rusty bikes. I haven't had a brand new bike since I was 14 years old! I figured it was time...also I thought it would encourage me to get out and exercise more. I was going to get my usual boys beach cruiser in black, I'm such a tomboy that I don't usually like flashy. But I decided at the last minute to get a shiny purple and silver girl bike. What do ya think?


We rode down to the parade, stopped by to meet some friend's at a house party, but it was all adults and the little guys wanted to hang out with us for a while (we wont have very many years left of them wanting to be with the "parents" since they're 14 & 15. So we told them we'd be back later and rode around with the kids.

Anthony's sister's and all their kids ended up coming down and we met up with them, got some lunch and had a picnic at the park with them and some other friends who met up with us. The boys ended up leaving and me and Anthony headed home for a quick rest before we had to ride back down for the fireworks show.

I had to leave and go pick up Josh from work. I was sitting in the LONG line of cars waiting to turn, when a group of bikers came riding in between all the cars and some parked cars. Some girls were obviously drunk...one girl turned around to talk to her friends and ran smack into the back of a parked car and flipped over the top of her bike, denting the car. Okay now you are all going to know how mean I am...I LAUGHED so hard. I always do when someone trips or falls. I can't help it! I wasn't alone, all the other cars were yelling, honking and laughing too! I didn't feel as bad. She was okay, but she did a bike hit and run. The owner of the car came running out of the house party, but the girl was long gone. I'll take entertainment anyway I can get it.

When we got back down to the beach it was FREEZING. The little guys never came home and had only swim trunks and tank shirts. They were shivering and complaining...we brought them some jackets and I got these pics of them racing toward the backpack and then fighting with a friend for the warmest one.

Elijah, Adam & Friend racing to the backpack for sweatshirts.



The Boys fighting over the warmest sweatshirt.

Even Anthony was cold.






Crowd in the ampitheatre.

Crowds watching street performers.

More Crowds in the dreaded Out House line.

My hubby & me trying to stay warm.



Waiting for the fireworks to start.

YAY...FINALLY!

All in all it was a good day and I didn't even cry once...which was a first. We love and miss you John!

My brothers...John hugging Troy.

Vote!

I just got home from voting a little while ago...with all the speculation and talk about long lines, I had my game face on ready to be patient. I lucked out, either I beat the crowds (I was there around 4:45pm) or everyone sent their ballot's in. I had only two people in front of me, one of them was a young kid, probably just turned 18. It was kind of cool to see someone so young taking an interest...I know I didn't at that age.

My sister's son registered (just turned 18 in October) because she is very involved (politically). She will have no part of a child in her house who is old enough to vote...stand by and let their vote be wasted!LOL! That's the one area that she definitely puts her foot down with her kids. I need to find out how that experience went for him. He didn't really want to, but I'm sure that she briefed him on everything since she reads and re-reads everything to make sure that no one is trying to trick her with the verbage! He will be one VERY informed 18 year old when he walks in to cast his vote, whether he likes it or not.

I hope everyone took advantage of their right and privilege to vote. We are so lucky to live in the USA, please be sure to take the time to do your part...our ancestors fought and died for this right. They gave us the gift of having the freedom to choose who will lead our country. Your vote counts!